People watch TV reporting North Korea's missile test at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. South Korea says North Korea has fired seven suspected artillery shells into the seas following its recent series of Scud missile launches. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) less

People watch TV reporting North Korea's missile test at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. South Korea says North Korea has fired seven suspected artillery shells into the ... more

Photo: Ahn Young-joon, Associated Press

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This picture taken on March 3, 2014 shows the Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) at a naval port in southeastern port city of Busan. North Korea fired short-range Scud missiles off its east coast for the second time in a week, drawing condemnation from Washington and Seoul as the allies held joint military exercises. REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT NO ARCHIVES NO INTERNET RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE AFP PHOTO/YONHAPYONHAP/AFP/Getty Images less

This picture taken on March 3, 2014 shows the Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine USS Columbus (SSN 762) at a naval port in southeastern port city of Busan. North Korea fired short-range Scud ... more

Photo: Yonhap, AFP/Getty Images

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North Korea tests rocket launcher, South says

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Seoul --

North Korea on Tuesday tested a new multiple-rocket launcher with a range long enough to strike major U.S. and South Korean military bases south of Seoul, South Korean military officials said.

Four rockets were launched Tuesday from Wonsan, a coastal city east of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, flying 96 miles to the northeast before crashing into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said his ministry had determined that the rockets were fired from a new multiple-rocket launcher that North Korea has been developing. Earlier Tuesday, North Korea tested an older multiple-rocket launcher, firing three rockets that flew 34 miles off its east coast, the spokesman said.

The tests were seen as Pyongyang's latest show of force as the United States and South Korea conduct annual joint military exercises, to which the North strongly objects. Last Thursday, North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles that traveled 124 miles from its east coast. On Monday, it fired another short-range ballistic missile that flew 310 miles.